Ladder bracket



y 5, 1953 w. L. BRENSIKE E1- AL 2,637,517

LADDER BRACKET Filed Dec. 1, 1950 175:? $29.2.

Attorney Patented May 5, 1953 LADDER BRACKET Walter L. Brensike, Appleton, and Harold R. Brcnsike, New London, Wis.

Application December 1, 1950, Serial No. 198,668 Claims. (Cl. 248--238) This invention relates to a novel construction of bracket to be used in pairs with a platform and a pa r of ladders to provide a scaffold and has for its primary object to provide platform supporting brackets for supporting a platform at a plurality of elevations between adjacent rungs or steps of a pair of ladders.

More particularly, it is a primary obiect of the present invention to provide a bracket which functions effectvely with a pair of ladders or other trestles for supporting a platform at a plurality of elevations which vary only slightly so that workmen standing upon the platform will be at a proper elevation for ceiling work thereby eliminating the inconvenience and loss of time frequently result ng when a scaffold platform is disposed either too high or too low to conveniently support workmen for ceiling work and which is necessarily true when the steps or rungs of ladders are employed for supporting the platform, due to the fact that ladder rungs or steps are usually spaced at least twelve inches apart.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a ladder bracket of extremely simple construction which may be economically manufactured and sold and which will be extremely emcient and durable for accomplishing its intended result.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ladder bracket which may be quickly and easily applied to or removed from a ladder without the use of fastenings and which will be effectively supported thereon primarily by a ladder rung or ure 1 but showing the bracket adjusted for supporting an end of a platform at a third, higher level;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 33 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a similar view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the ladder bracket shown detached from the ladder, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of the ladder bracket.

Referring more specifically to the drawing and first with reference to Figures 1 to 5, the ladder bracket in its entirety is designated generally I and includes an elongated loop-shaped member, designated generally 8 which may be formed from a rod the ends of which may be suitably secured together or which may be formed from an endless member. The loop-shaped member 8 includes corresponding parallel portions 9 and I0.

A pair of corresponding, steps or rung engaging hooks, each designated generally H is connected to the bracket portion 9, said hooks l I each including a relatively long shank l2 having a sleeve l3 at one end through which the bracket portion 9 extends and in which it is slidably and turnably mounted. If the loop 8 is of integral construction rather than being formed from a rod the end portions of which are secured together or left unsecured and in substantially abutting relationship, the sleeves l3 will be of split construction but otherwise may be of uninterrupted construction and may be applied to the portion 9 before the ends of the rod forming the loop 8 are joined together. Each shank l 2 at its opposite, upper end terminatesin an elongated hook portion 14 which is adapted to engage over a step or rung l5 of a ladder or other suitable trestle I6 and each hook portion M has a downturned terminal or bill portion I! which engages the inner edge of a rung or step l5 while the upper portion of the hook shank l2 engages the outer edge of said rung or step.

A pair of clips, each designated generally I8 is slidably and swin ably mounted on the bottom loop portion Ill, each clip including a sleeve [9 which slidably and turnably engages the loop portion ID, a shank 2B which projects radially from the sleeve l9 and an offset hook portion 2! which is offset relatively to the shank 20 and extends laterally from the free end thereof. In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5, the hook portions 2| extend inwardly with respect to one another, as best seen in Figure 5.

As clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the loop portion 8 is of a length greater than the distance between the side stiles 22 of the ladder l6 and the hook shanks l2 are ,each of a length substantially greater than the spacing between the remote edges of the loop portions 9 and Ill. Only a single ladder or trestle l6 and a single bracket has been illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 but it will be understood that a pair of the brackets l are utilized with a pair of ladders or trestles l6 and that each bracket 1' is adapted to adjustably support an end of a platform 23 which combines with the pair of brackets and the pair of ladders to form a scaffold. Assuming that the platform 23 if supported on the step or rung to which the hooks II are connected would be disposed at too high a level for ceiling work or if supported on the rung or step [5 directly below the bracket 1 would be. disposed too low for ceiling work, the bracket 1, is utilized for supporting an end of the platform 23 at three different elevations between said ladder steps and it will likewise be apparent that the opposite end, not shown, of the platform 23 will be similarly supported by a second bracket! mounted on a second ladder I6.

The bracket '1 is applied to the ladder It by engaging the hook portion llfwitha step or run l5 of said ladder, as clearly illustratedin Figures 3 and 4, and as previously described. 'The'end portions of the loop 8 will then bear against the outer edges-ofthe stiles22 to'prevent the bracket 1 from 'swinging'downwardly and inwardly rela- "tively to the ladder H5 and to maintain it in its "inclined positionoi lEigureS S or 'With'the loop B in--a-depending position relatively to the "hooks I Las'illustratd iri'Figures land-3, an end of the platform23 maybe supported by the loop portion as "illustrated in'full lines in Figures 1- and 3 and which constitutes the lowermost level at which theplatformcan be supported by" the" bracket. If it is desired to support the platform "at a'slightly higherlevel this can be accomplished without any change imposition of the bracket 'i by mer'ely supporting-an end or the platform on the loop portioni il between the hooks l I; as illus--- tratdin'dotted lines in Figures 1and3. "desired'to supportzthe' platform-23 at a higher If it'is level than itsdotted line position of Figures is and 3,- the loop-portion?Elis'rotated' in "the sleeves l3 counterclockwise as seen in" Figure 3 to position the loop-portion- Ill-above the loop'portion {land against the outer sides of thehookshanks l2, as illustrated in Figures' 2 and 4, and an end of the 'p1atform23 is then suppo'rtedon the loop portion HI-at'a higher level than the'dotted line position *of'the platform 23 of Figures 1' and"3.

In'order to insure that the'loopt'will not-swing downwardly fromits; position of Figure'4 back to'its position of Figure" 3 accidentally" and while the platform 23 is supported thereon; the clipsfil8 are-engaged behindthe hook shanks l2, as'seen in" Figures-2 and- 4; to retain the loop' 8*in its po- "sition of'these"figures/this being accomplished :bymovingtheclips l8 outwardly to adjacent the *ends' ofthe loop'portion It before said portion "is swung upwardly and thereafter displacing the "clips l8inwardly until their hook portions 2liengage behindthe ho'ok shanks I 2. "It will thus be readily apparent that an end'of' the pl'atform'23 may v be supported at three different elevations between two adj acently disposed rungs or steps '15 so that,-for example, if the'steps or rungs'lfi *arespaced twelve inches apart "-an' end of the are-connected to said'rod. *A pairz of clips lBa :is', 'slidably mounted on. thes'rod TIMI-between the connectors 24 and difier from the clips I 8 only 2 in the fact that their hook portions Zia extend outwardly instead of inwardly with respect to one another as said clips 18a are displaced away from .one aanother into engagement with the shock: shanks 12a and toward one another to be disengaged therefrom.

"Asthe operation and manner of use of the bracket 1a is identical with the bracket 1, a further description thereof is considered unnecessary.

Various other modifications and. changes." are likewise; contemplated andhmay. obviously be resortedcto. =without1departing from. the spirit. or scope'of the invention ashereinafter definedby the; appended claims.

We claim as our invention: 1 1. A Acladder hracketrcomprisingia:pair' of hooks reachadapted to detachably engage over a "ladder "rungorstep. and each provided with' an elongated depending: shank adapted .to' extend downwardly from an-edge of the step orrungga'.rigid'z elon- :gatedirnember having spaced: portionszconnecte'd toimverzportions of thehook'shanksand' disposed transversely of ssa'idzhook" shanks,s. a; secondselongatednrembergand .means connectings'aidtelongated: members .1 outwardly: of :v saidz'ihook .ashanks ;in& spaced substantially parallel relationship? and normally supporting said .second-elongatedmember. beneath. the first:mentioned"elongated 'mem- .ber,. said. elongatedmembers being adapted to be disposed. beneath the step or rungaengagedby: the hooks: and above the step or rung disposed'directlyztherebeneath for; selectively. supporting an; end

, ..of; a platform-on: either of said elongated :mem-

..nected. to ,the hooks shanks whereby the-1 second aelongated member .is swingable.upwardlyito aposition above. the .first -.mentioned: .elongatedsmemiber sand against-theshookz shanks 1for..supporting ..an-.end of..ithe platformrabove thelevel otthefirst v.mentioned. elongated member.

2. A ladder bracket comprising a pair of hooks leach. adaptedto. detachably-engage ovenaladder rung, or; step and. eachprovidedwith an. elongated depending. shank adapted to. extenddownwardly fromam edge of. .thestep; or: rung,1;a:rigid: elongated member havingispacedportionst connected to lower portions: of the hook shanks. and: disposed transversely of. said hook'shankspa SBCOIICDEIOIT- gated member, and meanszconnecting' said elongatedmembersv outwardly of 'said .hOOk shanks in spaced substantially parallel relationship and normally supporting saidsecond' elongated member beneath thefirst mentioned elongated memher, said elongated members being adaptedto be disposedbeneath the step or rung engagedibythe hooks arid above the-'step'or rungdisposeddirectly therebeneath for selectively supporting an end of a'platform on either of 'said' elongated membars at different levels relatively to'the step' engaged by the hooks, said elongated members constituting corresponding; parallel;v portions :of

an elongated loop having integral end portions joining complementary ends of said elongated members.

3. A ladder bracket comprising a pair of hooks each adapted to detachably engage over a ladder rung or step and each provided with an elongated depending shank adapted to extend downwardly from an edge of the step or rung, a rigid elongated member having spaced portions connected to lower portions of the hook shanks and disposed transversely of said hook shanks, a second elongated member, and means connecting said elongated members outwardly of said hook shanks in spaced substantially parallel relationship and normally supporting said second elongated member beneath the first mentioned elongated memher, said elongated members being adapted to be disposed beneath the step or rung engaged by the hooks and above the step or rung disposed direct- 1y therebeneath for selectively supporting an end of a platform on either of said elongated members at different levels relatively to the step engaged by the hooks, said elongated members constituting substantially parallel portions of a rod formed in the shape of an elongated loop.

a. A ladder bracket comprising a pair of hooks each adapted to detachably engage over a ladder rung or step and each provided with an elongated depending shank adapted to extend downwardly from an edge of the step or rung, a rigid elongated member having spaced portions connected to lower portions of the hook shanks and disposed transversely of said hook shanks, a second elongated member, and means connecting said elongated members outwardly of said hook shanks in spaced substantially parallel relationship and normally supporting said second elongated mem-' ber beneath the first mentioned elongated memher, said elongated members being adapted to be disposed beneath the step or rung engaged by the hooks and above the step or rung disposed directly therebeneath for selectively supporting an end of a platform on either of said elongated members at different levels relatively to the step engaged by the hooks, said means for connecting the rods comprising a pair of connectors each including a bar having transverse sleeve portions at the ends thereof engaging said elongated members.

5. A ladder bracket comprising a pair of hooks each adapted to detachably engage over a ladder rung or step and each provided with an elongated depending shank adapted to extend downwardly from an edge of the step or rung, a rigid elongated member having spaced portions connected to lower portions of the hook shanks and disposed transversely of said hook shanks, a second elongated member, and means connecting said elongated members outwardly of said hook shanks in spaced substantially parallel relationship and normally supporting said second elongated member beneath the first mentioned elongated member, said elongated members being adapted to be disposed beneath the step or rung engaged by the hooks and above the step or rung disposed directly therebeneath for selectively supporting an end of a, platform on either of said elongated members at different levels relatively to the step engaged by the hooks, said first memtioned elongated member being turnably and slidably connected to the lower, free ends of the hook shanks whereby the second elongated member is swingable upwardly to a position above the first mentioned elongated member and against the hook shanks for supporting an end of the platform above the level of the first mentioned elongated member, and clips slidably and turnably connected to the second elongated member having hook portions spaced therefrom and movable into engagement with the hook shanks for retaining said second elongated member in a position against the hook shanks and above the first mentioned elongated member.

WALTER L. BRENSIKE. HAROLD R. BRENSIKE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 881,054 Carle Mar. 3, 1908 1,659,632 Krans Feb. 21, 1928 2,544,368 Thorne Mar. 6, 1951 

